For music lovers in the Capital, the upcoming Dilli Haat at Janakpuri is the place to be. Unlike the other two Dilli Haats at INA and Pitampura, Delhi's third Dilli Haat is being developed on a theme — music. Atul Mathur reports.

For music lovers in the Capital, the upcoming Dilli Haat at Janakpuri is the place to be.

Unlike the other two Dilli Haats at INA and Pitampura, Delhi's third Dilli Haat is being developed on a theme — music.

Not will only the Haat have a music library where you can trace the history of Indian music through records and books, there will be a dedicated museum where you will be able to find various old and new Indian music instruments and other artefacts.

Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC), the agency building the Haat, is in touch with various government and other organisations to set up and operate the library and the museum.

"The Janakpuri Dilli Haat will be a cultural hub of West Delhi and will certainly become one of the most happening places in the city. Construction will be over in two months and we hope to open it for the public soon," DTTDC chairman Manish Chatrath said.

The entrance of the Haat will have a 12-feet-tall sculpture - an abstract form of a human - holding various Indian and western instruments followed by a spiral sphere with various notes and ragas written on it.

"In the courtyard, there will be a bell mettle pot tree and the walkways will have 500 bells that will produce a soothing sound. All these have been planned and designed keeping the theme of the Haat in mind," a DTTDC official said.

Another music theme-based structure at the haat would be four tabla-shaped towers — two in the front and two at the rear. Covered with bamboos, which have been sourced from Assam, the towers will house the museum, the library, the information centre and a café. The bamboos are being treated to increase their longevity and then cut in various sizes.

The haat will also be the greenest of the lot. "We have designed the haat in such a way that more than 100 fully grown trees have been saved. These trees have been assimilated into the design," a senior DTTDC official said. "The outer walls of the exposition halls will be covered by creepers," the official said.

Keeping Delhi's extreme heat in mind, the DTTDC has built air-conditioned shops and a food court.

Officials said they are in touch with various international organisations to have shops representing other countries. Apart from three exposition halls, an auditorium and an amphitheatre, the haat will have a restaurant. Seventy per cent of the water requirement of Dill Haat will be met with recycled water.